Mailbox flag-trip mechanism

ABSTRACT

A device for rural type mailboxes. This device includes a rod actuated flag member which engages a fixed latch member on the mailbox until a roller at one end of the rod is lifted by a bar secured to the mailbox cover.

United States Patent 51 3,680,524

Korinek et al. I Aug. 1, 1972 54] MAILBOX FLAG-TRIP MECHANISM 1,346,789 7/1920 Runkle,Jr ..232/34 Inventors: James L. Korinek Ulysses Neb McDowell ..v.--.232/35 68669; Dennis J. Korinek, 9810 2,106,642 1/1938 Matthews ..292/79 X Louis Drive, Omaha, Nebr. 68114 3,294,057 12/1966 Feil ..l 16/ 132 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 pp No: 101,831 Primary Exammer-Louns J. Capozl 52 us. (:1. ..116/132, 232/35, 292/79 [57] ABSTRACT Int. Cl- .L ..G08c A d i f rural t d ype max oxes. 1s evice m [58] gg i g gz'gg g' 3g cludes a rod actuated flag member which engages a l l fixed latch member on 'the mailbox until a roller at one end of the rod is lifted by a bar secured to the [56] References Cited mallbox cover UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 1,292,050 1/1919 Raney ..232/35 PATENTEDA B' 1 I9 2 3.680.524

. INVENTORS. (JAMES L. KOR/NEK & DENNIS J. KOR/NEK MAILBOX FLAG-TRIP MECHANISM This invention relates to mailboxes, and more particularly to a mailbox flag-trip mechanism.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a trip mechanism which will be actuated by opening the door of the mailbox, the door having bar means secured to it which will engage a roller secured to an elongated rod, the opposite end of the rod being secured to the flag.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trip mechanism which will have spring means and latch means for the operation thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described which will effectively and automatically lower the flag which is pivotally secured to the side of the box, the mechanism being of such structure so as to never need maintenance.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a mailbox flag-trip mechanism which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of FIG. 1.

According to this invention, a mailbox flag-trip mechanism is shown to include an elongated and horizontal rod 11 which is attached by pin means 12 to the rod 13 having a flag l4 affixed thereto. The lower end of rod 13 is secured pivotally by means of pin 15 to the mailbox.

A washer 16 is carried upon the elongated rod 11 and is secured by means of pin 17 carried transversely therethrough.

A coil spring 18 encircles rod 11 and urges against washer 16, the opposite end urging against the latch member 19 which is secured fixedly to the mailbox by means of fasteners 20.

Rod 11 is provided with a slot 21 on its underside which serves to engage latch 19 and a roller 22 is attached to one end of rod 11 by means of pin 23 and a bar 24 is secured fixedly to door 25 by means of a pair of rib fasteners 24. i

In use, the door 25 when opened will cause the bar 24 to engage roller 22 which will raise rod 11 and disengage it from the latch 19, the result being that the spring 18 will kick the rod 13 and its attached flag l4 rearwards and downwards.

What I claim is:

l. A rural mailbox, comprising in combination, a box having an opening on a front side thereof providing access to an interior of said box, said opening being normally closed by means of a door forwardly pivotable about a lower end thereof, a flag rod pivotable at one end about a pin secured to a side of said box, said flag rod being located externally of said box and having a flag at the other end thereof, an intermediate portion of said flag rod being pivotally connected to one end of a trip rod fitted through a U-shaped latch bracket secured on a outer side of said box, the opposite end of said trip rod extending forwardly beyond the front end of said box and said door, a roller being mounted pivotally on a pin to a forward end of said trip rod, said roller being circular, a bar affixed upon a front side of said door and exten 'n sidewardl be ond an ed e of said door so that said rip rod ma y re t there upc m, a

collar being affixed upon said tn'p rod and located between said flag rod and said latch bracket, a compression coil spring being fitted around said trip rod, one end of said spring bearing against said collar and the other end of said spring bearing against said latch bracket, an under side of said trip rod having a notch or hooking on said latch bracket when said flag rod is vertically upright with said flag at the upper end thereof, so that when said box door is forwardly pivoted, said bar secured on said door causes said roller to be upwardly lifted, thus causing said trip rod at its forward end to be likewise raised and said notch to disengage from said latch bracket so that said coil spring moves said trip rod backwardly thus causing said flag rod to pivot downwardly and bring said flag down. 

1. A rural mailbox, comprising in combination, a box having an opening on a front side thereof providing access to an interior of said box, said opening being normally closed by means of a door forwardly pivotable about a lower end thereof, a flag rod pivotable at one end about a pin secured to a side of said box, said flag rod being located externally of said box and having a flag at the other end thereof, an intermediate portion of said flag rod being pivotally connected to one end of a trip rod fitted through a U-shaped latch bracket secured on a outer side of said box, the opposite end of said trip rod extending forwardly beyond the front end of said box and said door, a roller being mounted pivotally on a pin to a forward end of said trip rod, said roller being circular, a bar affixed upon a front side of said door and extending sidewardly beyond an edge of said door so that said trip rod may rest there upon, a collar being affixed upon said trip rod and located between said flag rod and said latch bracket, a compression coil spring being fitted around said trip rod, one end of said spring bearing against said collar and the other end of said spring bearing against said latch bracket, an under side of said trip rod having a notch or hooking on said latch bracket when said flag rod is vertically upright with said flag at the upper end thereof, so that when said box door is forwardly pivoted, said bar secured on said door causes said roller to be upwardly lifted, thus causing said trip rod at its forward end to be likewise raised and said notch to disengage from said latch bracket so that said coil spring moves said trip rod backwardly thus causing said flag rod to pivot downwardly and bring said flag down. 